November employment sags in N.H.

Saturday

Dec 29, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By John Nolanjnolan@fosters.com

CONCORD — As reported last week, the preliminary unadjusted November 2012 unemployment rate for New Hampshire was 5.4 percent, an increase of 0.2 percentage points from the October rate. It compares even more unfavorably to the November 2011 unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.9 percent. These figures are contained in the latest release by New Hampshire Employment Security.

This worsening, albeit slight, of the state’s economy, is running against the national trend, and has resulted in New Hampshire slipping down the state rankings. A year ago, New Hampshire had the fifth lowest unadjusted unemployment rate in the nation behind North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Vermont. In November 2012, Vermont was lying fifth in the table, but New Hampshire has dropped to 14th place.

Elsewhere in New England, Rhode Island moved back into double-digit unemployment, hitting 10.0 percent in November (from 9.9 percent in October), while Connecticut improved over the month from 8.6 to 8.3 percent. Massachusetts, too, dipped, from 6.2 to 6.1 percent in November. The best unadjusted rate in the region was recorded by Vermont in November by repeating its October jobless rate of 4.6 percent. Things got a little tougher in Maine, in November, where the rate went from 6.7 to 7 percent over the month.

New Hampshire’s jobless rate is still markedly better than the average rate for the United States, although the gap has now narrowed to two percentage points. Nationally, the unadjusted rate for November 2012 was 7.4 percent, a decrease of 0.1 percentage points from the October rate and a decrease of 0.8 percentage points from the November 2011 rate.

Seasonally adjusted estimates (which vary a little from unadjusted estimates) for November 2012 placed the number of employed residents at 697,950, a decrease of 60 from the previous month and a decrease of 3,590 from November 2011. The number of unemployed residents decreased by 630 over the month to 41,590. This was 2,520 more unemployed than in November 2011. From October to November 2012, the total labor force decreased by 690 to 739,540. This was a decrease of 1,070 from November 2011.

These numbers are all based on surveys of New Hampshire residents, and thus they do not truly reflect the state’s economy, as they include tens of thousands of people who commute to other states to work.

NHES uses a different methodology — a monthly survey of New Hampshire businesses — to estimate the number of jobs there are in-state, and in which sectors of the economy these jobs are.

Between October and November, the state lost 3,600 private sector jobs and gained 700 government jobs, for a net loss of 2,900.

There are now an estimated 629,400 jobs in New Hampshire, which is 2,500 fewer than a year ago.

The Construction sector now employs 22,200 people in the state, which is down 1,200 jobs over the month and down 400 over the year.

Manufacturing remained steady in November with 65,600 jobs, but this is 500 fewer than a year ago.

Wholesale Trade, a sector that sometimes indicates what is to come, now has 27,900 employees, which is up 100 over the month and up 1,000 over the year.

The Retail sector, too, augers a little better, with 94,400 employees, up 1,600 with Christmas hires, and also up 500 jobs over the year.

Real Estate, Rentals and Leasing, which had been strengthening until the fall, lost 100 jobs from October to November. It now employs 6,500 people, which is 200 fewer than a year ago.

The sector that only bureaucrats could have named, Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services, now has 29,000 workers — up 500 over the month, but down 200 over the year. Temporary hires are often included in the category.

Colleges, Universities and Professional Schools (in the private sector) now have a combined staff of 19,400 people — down 400 both over the month and the year.

The Health Care and Social Assistance sector, which, until earlier this year, was reliable for slow, steady growth, has faltered of late. In November, though, it added 700 jobs to stand at 84,800 people, which is 600 fewer than in November 2011.

Leisure and Hospitality, which includes arts and entertainment, recreation, accommodation and eating and drinking places of every kind, lost 4,900 jobs over the month as leaf-peepers headed for home. There are now 60,300 workers in this sector, which is still 800 more than this time, last year.

Government employment at federal state and local level rose over the month, by a net 700 jobs to 95,300. This is down 1,200 jobs over the year.

Local government added 900 positions in November, federal government shed 200 jobs, and state government remained steady.

Federal government now has 7,000 people, which is down 300 over the year. State government has 26,500 employees and that is up 400 over the year. Local government, in November, had 61,800 employees, which is down 1,300 over the year.

Counties, cities and towns

On Dec. 27, NHES also released its Local Area Unemployment Statistics for November, and in this area, jobless rates ranged from a low of 2.8 percent in the town of Madbury to a high of 8.8 percent in Seabrook.

Belknap County, in November, posted an unadjusted jobless rate of 5.2 percent, Carroll County was at 5.3 percent, Rockingham County was at 5.9 percent and Strafford County stood at 5.0 percent.